"Haisst!!! Boring naman dito. Wait saan kaya CR dito." nag ikot ikot muna si Baekhyun sa bahay ni Death ng may makita siyang secret passage at namangha sa nakita nya.
Chandeliers, old paintings, old things and a house full of books. makaluma ang tema ng lugar.
"What is this place?" sabi nito but nabigla ito when someone speak and it was Death "What are you doing here??" and still in her usual poker face
"Kelan pa sya na kauwi. Buti na lang nakaluto na ako." sabi na lamang ni Baekhyun sa isip nya
"When did you arrived. What is this place. Ginulat mo naman ako." sunod sunod na sabi ng binata.
"Again, what are you doing here." Poker face nyang tanong pero palapit sya ng palapit hanggang sa na corner nya ang binata
"I was just looking where is the CR, tapos na pahawak ako sa pader, biglang bukas sya. Pumasok ako kasi nga hinahanap ko yung CR." sagot namannito kanya.
"Get out. The CR is in my room." Tapos binato ng guro sa kanya ang isang bag na may lamang damit.
"Maligo ka na rin doon para makakain na tayo. Dalian mo." Sabay labas nya.
"Masarap ba?" Tanong naman ni Baekhyun sa kanya habang tinitikman nya ang luto ng binata.
"Pwede na. Salamat." Sagot naman ni Death natapos kaming kumain at nag hugas naman sya ng plato.
"Pahiram ng charger ng phone o kaya patext na lang." Baekhyun said while watching the news
"I don't have a mobile phone." the only answer Baekhyun heard that got him a little shock
"Ano? Imposible. Nag bibiro ka ba?" sagot naman nito
"No." flat nyang sabi.
"May mga reporters pa ba sa labas." sunod nyang tanong
"Yes." her answer while still reading her book
"Haiissttt.. Gusto ko pa naman ng ramen" sabi naman ng binata
Hindi ito pinansin ni Death but minutes past. "Haiiist!!! Gusto ko ng ramen" Pag uulit ni Baekhyun
Hindi na naka tiis ang dalaga at kinuha ang jacket nya at palabas na ito ng pinto
"Where are you going?" tanong ni Baekhyun
"Ramen" tanging sagot ni Death that make him smile
Before she open the door. hide
Baekhyun right away understand this since he know the reporters are outside
He then hide in the back of the door na halos mapunit na ang bibig sa pag ngiti
Death opened the door and saw reporters that sitting on the floor na halos mag camping na sa labas ng unit ni Baekhyun
Isang reporter ang lumapit sa kanya at tinapatan sya ng isang maliit na recorder "Magandang gabi sayo. Pwede ka bang mainterview, kilala mo ba ang lalaking nakatira sa tapat ng bahay mo."
At doon ay dinumog na rin sya ng mga reporter at sunod sunod na nag bigay ng kanilang katanungan
"Nakita mo bang lumabas sya ng bahay nya?" "Isa sya sa myembro ng isa sa pinaka sikat na grupong EXO" "Umuwi na ba sya dito?" "Close ba kayo?"
She just stared at them at akmang lalakad papuntang elevator
"Teka lang, may tinatanong pa kami?" Pigil ng isang reporter
She then answered them. "Today's news isn't about telling the truth and telling what really happened but it tells people what it wants the people to hear and what they think people want to hear."
"You can never look good for making someone else look bad."
Unti - unti namang nag baba ng camera at mga mic ang iilan
"Ms. hindi namin kailangan ng pangaral mo. Do you even know what Journalism is?" tanong ng isang reporter na nakataas pa ang kilay nya
"Journalism is a form of either writing or broadcasting that tells people about things that REALLY HAPPENED." She said na may pagdiin sa salitang "REALLY HAPPENED" and then she continued "Journalists educate the public about events and issues and how it affects their lives."
Death paused at hinarap ang mga reporter and continued "And gossip is idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others"
"Wala kang kwentang kausap!!" sigaw naman nito sa kanya.
Unting unting lumapit si Death sa kanya at napasandal na ito sa pader and she look him straight in the eye without any emotions and says "Remember that what comes of your mouth is what describe you, if you are then so happy with your life, why would you need to gossip other people, stop worrying about them and start living your life."
Nanahimik lang sila and then the elevator opened, but before she close it "A single lie can destroy a whole reputation of a person integrity"
And she went down to but ramen for Baekhyun, He heard everything and says
"Death Thank you...."
She arrived at naroon pa rin ang ma reporter pero hindi na sya pinansin ng mga ito at yung iba ay nakayuko na lang na parang nahihiyang tumingin sa kanya.
She opened the door and go straight away in the kitchen where Baekhyun already prepared everything, chopstick and waters.
Inilapag ng dalaga ang pagkain at inihanda naman iyon ni Baekhyun.
Palinga -linga naman si Baekhyun rito at napansin yun ng dalaga what sabi lang nito sabay higop ng sabaw.
"Thank you... I heard you earlier..." sabi naman ng binata rito.
"I did not do that for you, I did that because its a fact, its not for you." sabi naman nito at uminom ng tubig at tumayo.
But before she left the kitchen "Only hide when you've done something wrong. Don't just hide." at bumalik sa sala at itinulooy ang pag babasa.
Baekhyun just left there thinking what she said "Why am I here then? I should go out and tell them that I didn't do anything."
"Stay still." sabi naman ni Death habang busy sa pag babasa ng libro
Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Baekhyun at iniligpit na ang pinag kainan nila
Hours past and Baekhyun is also busy chatting his members and manager regarding what is happening to him. Napansin na lamang ng binata na pumuntang veranda ang guro. Tumayo na rin sya at gumawa ng Kape tapos inabot ito kay Death.
"Do you know why I choose this place?" putol naman ng binata sa katahimikan tapos tinuro nito ang billboard ng EXO.
"So that I can see that well. That's the most expensive place in this country. To put an advertisement up there, it costs as much as $100,000 per month. That's where the face of the hottest star at the time gets put up there. So now, that is where EXO now."
"Before I go to sleep and when I wake up in the morning too, when I'm depressed, when I'm hungry but can't eat anything because I'm on a diet, if I look at that, it makes me feel better. It also makes me kind of full too. When I'm hurt by others too, if I see myself smiling like that and seeing once again that we are back as 12, it comforts me so much and that's how I am." Sabi ba nito kay Death.
"I never knew it was there." simpleng sagot lang ni Death.
"Kaya siguro hindi mo kami kilala at kahit sino man lang sa amin." sagot naman ni Baekhyun rito
Tinitigan muli ang billboard "Nation's Pick, Worldwide No. 1 Artist, Korea's Nation's Group. EXO~" . Its been so many years and they still able to maintain being on top.
He remembered those times that they have gone through this past years. The lawsuits, dating rumors, Hyun Woo's Death and many more.
One thing that Baekhyun is thankful is that the fans never left them behind. Some have left but a lot have stayed and new fans was added. He smile in this thought and says "I am so thankful that I am part of EXO. I never regret what happened to us before cause it made us more stronger and made us what and who we are now."
"Do you want to know the method to not be hurt by people?" biglang sabi ni Death at napatingin naman dito ang binata
She then continued "Don't give or take anything. Don't expect anything either. Then, you won't be disappointed or hurt."
Then he answered her "but then, where's the fun in life there? Isn't lonely to live on an Island? I never seen anyone na dumalaw man lamang sayo. You never eat with anyone you said. Mag isa ka lang lagi. Do you have a family or any relatives? Living like an island like this, isn't lonely?"
She was silent for a moment and sip her coffee and answered me "There are over than 10 reporters who are waiting for you in front of my door."
"Out of people who live down there, more than half of them would know you well.
Your manager, coordinator, fans..."
"There are always a lot of people around you, but you are here alone." She paused and continued
"and I'm not alone..." sa puntong ito, napatingin naman ang binata sa kanya at napatulala sa sumunod na sinabi ng dalaga
"We're together, you're here....
.
.
.
.
.
With me"
She then sip her coffee again and look at Baekhyun again "I have a class tomorrow. Matulog kana. Good night... " And left.
"We're together, here with you.." salitang paulit - ulit sa isip ng binata.